Canada’s senate passes a bill to make the country’s national anthem gender-neutral

Canada’s senate passes a bill to make the country’s national anthem gender-neutral

(CNN) — Canada’s Senate has passed a bill making the country’s national anthem gender-neutral.

If you’re not familiar with the words to “O Canada,” here’s how the first few lines of the English version originally read: O Canada! / Our home and native land! / True patriot love in all thy sons command.

The bill changes the phrase “in all thy sons command” to “in all of us command.”

It must now receive “royal assent” from the governor general before it becomes law.

The bill passed Canada’s House of Commons in 2016, but spent 18 months under debate in the Senate, where it faced opposition from some members of the Conservative Party. After it passed, some criticized the vote.